WESTERN SEMINARY SAN JOSE
SUBSTANCE ABUSE
CNS 521S; 2 credit hours
Dr. Steven Stiles, Adjunct Professor
(831) 427-1007; milbroke@yahoo.com
Fall Semester, 2004
SYLLABUS
Dates: 9/7, 21; 10/5,19; 11/2,16
Time: Tuesday 5:15 -9:55 p.m.
Course Description
A study of the basic patterns of addiction and their psychological, social, and physical causation. Historical and contemporary issues related to understanding and responding to substance abuse problems will be covered in this introductory course.
Course Goals
Students will learn essential issues related to the practice of substance abuse counseling in a variety of professional settings.
Course Objectives
a. To provide students with an introductory understanding of the history, scope, and critical issues of substance abuse counseling in our society.
b. To develop the ability to interpret basic patterns of addiction.
Core Competencies
Upon successful completion of this course individuals will be able to:
Texts and Resources
TEXTS
Royce, James ALCOHOL PROBLEMS AND ALCOHOLISM
Alcoholics Anonymous World Services ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS
Note: Amazon.com (to which all the books are linked below) often has used volumes you can order. You may also want to check out http://www.bestwebbuys.com/books/ for a cost comparison for any book at the major online bookstores.
WEB RESOURCES
www.naadac.org National Association 0f Alcohol and Drug Abuse Educators
www.health.org General Information
www.nida.nih.gov National Institute on Drug Abuse (General Information)
www.niaaa.nih.gov National Institute on Alcohol and Alcohol Abuse (General Information)
www.recoverynetwork.com Drug and Alcohol links
www.substanceabuserandmentalhealthdata archive.gov SAMHDA (General data)
www.isaic.cedar-rapids./ib.ia.us/searcher.html (Research data)
www.drugtext.org/ Substance information and pharmacology
www.arf.org Drug and Alcohol information
http://snj.com/ala-call/ Drug and Alcohol info at a glance
www.ccsa.ca/ Publications
www.bsos.umd.edu/cesar.html CESAR (Research)
www.casacolumbia.org Costs
www.drugs.indiana.edu Prevention
www.well.com/user/woa Facts
General Course Requirements
Reading
Assigned reading is listed in the course outline. Each assignment should be completed before the class session so that you will be able to participate in and benefit from class discussions.
Assigned reading is listed in the course outline.
According to Western Seminary standards there are two levels
Familiarity level. This level assumes knowledge of the material assigned and leads to accountability in class. (45 pages per hour).
Mastery level. Reading at this level will average about 20 pages per hour and assumes careful reflective interaction with the ideas, note taking, and will lead to accountability in class, and papers at a mastery level (1000 pages = 50 hours).
These are intended to serve as flexible guidelines or rules of thumb; they are not thought to be rigid. It is certainly understood that books are printed with varying numbers of words per page and written to varying reading levels.
Each assignment should be completed before the class session so that you will be able to participate in and benefit from the class discussions.
Written Assignments
For all written work, please use basic APA format unless otherwise directed. For more information on APA standard form, you may purchase the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, 5th Edition, revised July 2001 (to order from APA: http://www.apa.org/books/4200060.html).
English composition and spelling must be at a graduate level. Valued qualities include clarity, insight, and engagement with the issue about which you are writing.
Papers must be written to a near-thesis standard. That is, minimum format standards must be met, as defined below. English grammar, idiom and spelling must be up to graduate level. Always include a strong introduction paragraph-declare what you intend to show the reader-and conclusion paragraph. Qualities valued include clarity, succinctness, and precision.
1" margins top, bottom and sides
Double-space
12-point standard.
Indent paragraphs .5 inch
No extra line-feed between paragraphs (Format-Paragraph-Space After)
Underline section headings
Staple; no paperclips, folders, or fanfold
Page numbers
Title page is preferred. Any paper sent by email must include a title page.
10% of the grades on the typed papers will be Form, that is, conformity to the above standards. (Our purpose is to motivate all Western Seminary students to present work that consistently looks as good as its content is.)
All work must reflect Master's Level use of the English Language. Plagiarism will result in failure of the first assignment so discovered. A second instance will result in failure in the course
Library and Internet Research
Students are expected to utilize library and Internet resources for research and written assignments as appropriate. A number of resources can be found in the seminary library, which is available for your use Monday - Friday, 9am –5pm. Documentation of sources used (including but not limited to periodicals, journals, books, videos, etc.) is to be submitted along with the papers when they are turned in, including the physical location of each. Journal articles must be credible and be obtained from peer reviewed and professional journals.
Some of your class assignments will require library research that is annotated as such in the bibliography. A number of resources can be found in the seminary library, which is available for your use Mon-Fri, 9-5. The Sacramento Public Library, Sac State Library, and UC Davis Library are also good resources, and Western has special access arrangements set up with those libraries. (See the class catalog for information regarding those arrangements.) The Internet also offers access to a number of older books that are within the public domain. Some Internet sites to begin with are:
As mentioned above, one or more of your assignments must include a bibliography, which indicates the use of at least two resources from a physical library.
Course Requirements (Specific)
Class Policies
APPEALS: Appeals may be channeled through guidelines provided for in school policy, however students are encouraged to direct informal appeals to the instructor if they so choose.
SCHEDULES: Break times may be adjusted based on class consensus.
ATTENDANCE: More than two weeks equivalency of missed classes may result in lowered grades.
TARDINESS: Chronic tardiness may result in lowered grades.
LATE WORK: Students are expected to attend and participate in classroom activities as directed. The student alone is responsible to make arrangements for missed course work and the instructor is under no obligation to assist the student in making up assignments unless the student provides a legitimate reason for the absence (e.g., illness or family emergency). When an absence is anticipated, a student is directed to consult the instructor in advance. Class absences may affect your overall grade. All assignments are due on or before the date specified. Late assignments will be accepted on a partial credit basis only. Missed lectures must be made up by written assignments given by instructor. Late work may result in lowered grades. All assignments (unless otherwise specified) are due no later than the last scheduled day of class. Students who desire to have assignments returned to them prior to next term, should include a self-addressed, stamped envelope.
PROFESSIONAL JUDGEMENT: If a student performs adequately in academic subjects but fails to demonstrate capacity for professional competence, lower grades may be assigned than would be otherwise expected. If a student performs well in professional skills, but does poorly in academic subjects, while making maximum effort, they may still receive minimal passing grades.
CONFIDENTIALITY: Confidentiality of personal disclosure by students in class must be honored. Failure to do so may result in lowered grades and limited class participation particularly in disclosure related settings such as discussion and role played therapy.
INFECTIOUS DISEASES: Students who have infectious diseases that endanger or threaten other students are expected to inform their instructor. Instructor may choose to not allow the student in the classroom during times of such illness and will provide reasonable means for the student to make up work provided the illness does not cause excessive absences.
Grading
Course work will be graded according to the following standards:
Written comments will also be provided for the purpose of giving personal feedback to students regarding their work.
Students are encouraged to discuss comments or grades that they do not understand (or with which they do not agree) the day assignments are returned. The professor will be available during scheduled office hours and by appointment should individuals prefer to meet before or after class.
Students who complete all course requirements in a satisfactory manner will receive a grade of B. Students who make exceptional contributions and who submit outstanding written work will receive a grade of A.
|
Papers |
40 points |
|
Paper 2 (Book summary) |
25 points |
|
Attendance and active participation in class activities |
25 points |
|
Presentation |
10 points |
Grading Scale
|
A+ |
99-100% |
B+ |
91-92% |
C+ |
84-85% |
D+ |
77-78% |
|
A |
95-98% |
B |
88-90% |
C |
81-83% |
D |
74-76% |
|
A- |
93-94% |
B- |
86-87% |
C- |
79-80% |
D- |
70-73% |
Tentative Course Outline
Note: Reading and other assignments will be confirmed and finalized during class.
|
Class Session |
Class Date |
Topic & Assignment |
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1. |
9/7 |
Orientation Definition & Concepts Scope of Addiction Big Book Due: |
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2. |
9/21 |
Alcohol Metabolism Liver Effects of Alcohol History of Drugs and Alcohol (I) Due: |
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3. |
10/5 |
History of Drugs and Alcohol (II) Endocrine System Big Book Lab Due: |
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4. |
10/19 |
Big Book Brain Substance Abuse and Neurotransmitters Brainstem/Forebrain issues Lab Due: |
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5. |
11/2 |
Co-Dependency Big Book Lab Due: |
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6. |
11/16 |
Final class presentations & Wrap Up Drug typology overview Charting Forum Due: Final Papers Due: |
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